Behavioral Therapist Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a behavioral therapist. Feel free to use our behavioral therapist job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a behavioral therapist.
Who is a Behavioral?
A behavioral therapist is someone who focuses on an individual’s current problems and behavior. A behavioral therapist teaches a particular person to understand his or her behavior and learn different methodologies on how to correct it. This kind of approach varies with other therapeutic approach that focuses on an underlying problem such as traditional psychodynamic therapies that examine unresolved issues from childhood. Many people love behavioral therapists because it allows them to work with themselves and change their behavior. Behavioral therapy started in the 20th century and became popular over the years. Edward Thorndike was one of the first people to refer to the idea of modifying behavior.
Behavioral therapists take care of patients who are suffering from different kinds of disorders such as; anorexia, depression, alcoholism, schizophrenia, autism, and depression. The major objective is to help patients modify the effect of these issues on their behavior. The major role a behavioral therapist play is to eliminate behaviors and thoughts that are unhealthy. This is achieved through the process of equipping patients with mental techniques to make better choices.
Behavioral therapists use diverse tools to help patients deal more effectively with daily challenges such as stress and phobias.
The work schedule of a behavioral therapist daily has to do with sitting in a chair for each therapy session. A behavioral therapist sits on the desk and uses computers, telephone while writing records and notes of clients. They also communicate with other members of the therapy team. A behavioral therapist has a private practice that specializes in treating phobias using exposure therapy. The therapist begins by understanding the client’s behavior and the circumstances in which it arises. I gain this background, the therapist and client come together to share an understanding concerning a behavior. A behavioral therapist also comes up with a plan on how to help clients; this plan is on a longer-term basis. This depends on how the client responds to the treatment.
Types of Behavioral Therapy
There are different types of behavioral therapy. The type of therapy can be used depending on the different factors, the person’s condition, and the symptoms the person is manifesting. These are the types of behavioral therapy:
- Applied behavior analysis
This kind of therapy uses operant conditions to shape and modify problematic behavior
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
This kind of therapy relies on the behavioral technique but also includes a cognitive element focusing on problematic thoughts behind behaviors
- Dialectical behavioral therapy
This kind of therapy utilizes both behavioral and cognitive techniques to help people manage their emotions, cope with stress and enhance interpersonal relationships with others
- Exposure Therapy
This utilizes behavioral techniques to help people overcome their phobia of situations or objects. This approach incorporates techniques that expose people to the primary cause of their fear while practicing relaxation strategies. It is mainly used for treating phobias and other forms of anxiety.
- Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy: this focuses on identifying negative or destructive thoughts and feelings. People then overcome these thoughts by challenging them with more optimistic thoughts
- Social Learning Theory:
This primarily focuses on how people learn through observation. Observing others being rewarded or punished for their actions can lead to learning and behavior change.
Techniques
To ascertain how behavioral therapy works. It is highly paramount to know the techniques used in behavioral therapy. There are two theories of techniques and they are classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Classical Conditioning
Classical conditioning involves making associations between stimuli. Previously neutral stimuli are paired with a stimulus that naturally and automatically evokes a response. After repeated pairings, an association is formed and the previously neutral stimulus will come to evoke the response on its own. Classical conditioning is one way to change behavior. There are diverse techniques used in this approach to therapy.
- Aversion therapy: this process involves pairing an undesirable behavior with an aversive stimulus in the hope that the unwanted behavior will be reduced. For instance, someone with an alcohol disorder might take Antabuse. This brings about severe symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and anxiety when combined with alcohol
- Flooding: this process involves exposing people to fear –involving objects or situations intensely and rapidly. It is often used in treating phobias. During this intensive process, the individual is prevented from escaping or avoiding the situation.
- Systematic Desensitization: in this technique, people make a list of their fears and learn to relax while concentrating on these fears. Starting with the least fear to their utmost fears. People systematically confront these fears under the guidance of a therapist. Systematic desensitization is often used to treat phobias and other anxiety disorders.
Operant Conditioning
Operant conditioning focuses on how punishment and reinforcement are used to reduce or increase the frequency of behaviors. Behaviors followed by desirable consequences are more likely to occur again the future in the future. While those followed by negative consequences become less likely to occur.
Behavioral therapy is utilized punishment, shaping, and modeling to change behavior. These methods can produce fast and effective results.
- Contingency management; this approach uses a formal written agreement between a client and a therapist ( or parent or teacher) that list-out the change in behavior goals, reinforcements, rewards, and punishments. Contingency agreements can be very efficient in producing behavior changes since these rules are spelled out preventing both parties from backing out on their promises to one another.
- Extinction: another strategy of producing behavior change is to stop reinforcing the behavior to remove the responses. Time-outs are a perfect example of the extinction process. During a time-out, a person is removed from a situation that provides reinforcement, by taking away what a person cherishes most, unwanted behavior is usually curtailed
- Behavior modeling: This technique involves learning through observation and shaping the behavior of others. Rather than relying simply on reinforcement and punishment, modeling or shaping gives a chance to individuals to develop new skills or acceptable behavior by watching someone else showcase these behaviors.
- Token economies: this strategy relies highly on reinforcement to modify behavior. Parents and teachers often use token economics to give room for kids to earn tokens when they showcase an acceptable behavior. These tokens can be traded for rewards such as candy, toys, or extra time playing with favorite toys.
How Behavioral Therapists Help Patients
Behavioral therapy can be maximized to treat a wide range of psychological conditions and disorders such as:
- Bipolar disorder
- Alcohol and substance disorder
- Anxiety
- Phobias
- Panic disorder
- Eating disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Depression
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD)
- Autism spectrum disorder
Behavioral Therapist Job Description
Below are the behavioral therapist job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a behavioral therapist job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a behavioral therapist include the following:
- Collect data about the client’s behavior through observation, interviews, and counseling sessions
- Detect and diagnose specific disorders such as anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorders( Such as hair-pulling)
- Evaluate how the client’s behavior impacts personal and professional functioning
- Design treatment inventions to help target behavior
- Assist clients in building skills to manage their disorder, such as communication or coping skills
- Assess potential alternative treatment plans
- Help clients implement treatment interventions in meetings and in between sessions
- Maintain documentation to ensure all treatments are efficient
- Collaborate with families to implement treatment
- Formulate new techniques in behavioral therapy programs
- Render strong emotional support to patients during behavioral therapy
- Change behavioral disorders and aspects in children and adolescents
- Facilitate lifestyle change for patients with behavioral problems
- Provide behavioral therapy services to clinics, hospitals, communities, and resident-based setting
- Observe and monitor patient’s behavior regularly
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree In Psychology, Social work, Guidance & counseling,or a related field
- Master’s degree in social work or counseling
- A state license is required from those in a clinical setting
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Must also have an active listening skill
- Must exhibit patience on the job scene
- Showcase very strong interpersonal skills
- Must have the ability to work independently when assigned a case
- Must possess the ability to work with families, healthcare professionals, counselors,and others
- Ability to evaluate a client and implement treatment programs with little or no supervision
- Ability to showcase compassion to patient’s
- Excellent collaborative skills
- Extensive knowledge of behavioral therapy
- Proven experience in behavioral therapy
Essential Skills
- Verbal and written communication
- Ability to motivate or persuade clients
- Listening, empathy, and interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving, particularly to help clients identify solutions or complex problems
- Patience and ability to work with clients who are depressed or angry
- Attention to detail to observe and record behavioral changes
How to Become a Behavioral Therapist
- Acquire a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology or Social Works
To qualify as a behavioral therapist; you must enroll for a bachelor’s degree in psychology or social works which usually takes four years to complete. Related fields like Guidance & Counseling can be considered too by employers.
- Enroll for a Master’s Degree Program
Some behavioral therapist employers may require that aspiring behavioral therapists hold a master’s degree in clinical psychology, social work, or counseling. A master’s degree builds the knowledge and skills of a behavioral therapist.
- Volunteer for internship to acquire the relevant working experience
An aspiring behavioral therapist can enroll for an internship with a specific population such as children with autism or adults struggling with substance abuse. He can also work in schools or hospitals. This experience will help him to acquire the skills that are highly sought out for behavioral therapy outside the job scene.
- Earn Professional Certifications
There are various certifications that behavioral therapists can acquire. These certifications may sometimes be mandated by employers as a means of demonstrating competency in the behavioral treatment model.
The National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists offers certifications in cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) that have an extensive scope of CBT. These include a Diploma in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and a Certificate in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. These certifications are mostly available to licensed therapists with a specific period of work experience and published articles in the field.
- Earn Clinical Licensure: To work in private practice or setting, behavioral therapists are required to hold licensure as clinical social workers or their area of specialty. The specific requirement for clinical licensure may not be the same in every state but for social workers, this generally requires at least two- years post-Master’s degree in Social Work experience. It is also required that a behavioral therapist pass the ASWB clinical examination and a specified number of hours of supervision by a licensed social worker.
- Draft your Resume: draft your resume and include all your educational qualifications, skills, and experience to attract employers. This resume should also carry your certifications and other accolades you have received to make your resume marketable.
- Apply for positions as a behavioral therapist: you should analyze the job market to ascertain what type of institution is in your vicinity and which one offers the style of therapy you can use. To increase the chances of being selected; apply for positions that match your qualifications and experience. Make your resume marketable so that you can show your potential employer that you are the ideal candidate for the job.
Where can a Behavioral Therapist Work?
Behavioral therapists work in diverse places because it is a highly lucrative specialization. They can work in the following places;
- Private practice
- Schools and Universities
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Rehabilitation centers
- Detention facilities
- Community Mental Health centers
- Nursing Homes and Assisted living facilities
- Prisons
- Social Service centers
- Faith-based organizations
Behavioral Therapist Salary Scale
The salary of a behavioral therapist varies based on different countries and below are some countries:
- In the United States, in the year 2018, counselors working with behavioral disorders earn a median salary of $44,630. The work setting is a key variable that impacted the salary. Behavioral therapists in government industries earned more (median salary of $51,690) than those in hospitals (median salary of $48,310) or mental health and substance abuse facilities (median salary of $43,120 for outpatient and $38,190 for residential). The pay for a behavioral health therapist varies based on regions in the United States.
- In Nigeria, a clinical psychologist working as a behavioral therapist earns 1,040,000NGN per month on average. Salaries range from 488,000NGN to 1,640,000GN. This average salary includes other incentives like housing, transport,and other benefits.